KATIE Wyse, who finished fifth on Illaunurra Bay in the Berney Bros Saddlery older performance hunter class at the 2022 Dublin Horse Show, won the same class in Ring 2 last Wednesday week on Clareville Codiac.

As Illaunurra Bay was at the time, the eight-year-old Caherlistrane Bay gelding Clareville Codiac is owned by the rider’s mother Anna. The grey was bred in Co Galway by John Tierney out of the Slisneoir mare Tegan.

None of the 16 starters managed to go clear inside the time although Lisa Murphy came close to doing so when just outside the time on Parkroe Rio, who finished seventh (239.5). Clareville Codiac had one fence down but, with the highest flatwork mark (70) and a good score for conformation (24.5), he claimed the class honours on a total of 262.5.

The athletic, good-looking winner first came to our attention this year, when he and Wyse won a very well-filled Connemara working hunter class at the Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan, where he also secured a ticket for HOYS, which will be his next big target. While it will probably raise hackles to mention this success now, the combination won the Clifden high performance qualifier at the Balmoral Show in May. Wyse will shortly be returning to UCD, where she will be heading into her second year studying Business and Law.

Linda Murphy, who has had a lot of success in this ring in the past, finished second on the 12-year-old Robe Johnson gelding Cluainin Robb (256), while Lisa Murphy slotted into third with Doire Mhainaigh Robbie (254.5), a 13-year-old gelding by Cashelbay Cruise.

The highest conformation score of 27 was awarded to a popular regular in this class, Liz Power’s 12-year-old Cashelbay Prince gelding Kilshanny Robert, who finished sixth (242) under a busy Diarmuid Ryan.